Adjustable level.



No. 775,483. PATENTED NOV. 22, 1904.

G. H. WHITEHGUSE.

ADJUSTABLE LEVEL.

APPLICATION FILED sBPT.1'1. 1903.

() MODEL.

n illlllA .lillllllllll l UNITED STATES Patented November 22, 1904.

GEORGE H. VVHITEHOUSE, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

ADJUSTABLE LEVEL.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 775,483, datedNovember 22, 1904.

Application led September 17,- 1903. Serial Nrn-173,600. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. WHITEHoUsE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Seattle, in the county of Kipg and State ofWashington, have invented a new and useful Level, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to levels adapted to be used for all purposes forwhich ordinary levels are used and which possesses features allowing itto be used for indicating angles from a horizontal or vertical or fordetermining grades. y

The main object of the invention is to provide indicating devices bymeans of which an extremely delicate adjustment may besecured;

Another object is to provide means whereby the indicating devices may beadjusted.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a level of the characterdescribed which is simple in construction, eifective in operation, anddurable in use and applicable to numerous purposes, which readilysuggest themselves to mechanics.

The invention is of great use to carpenters, masons, shipwrights, andothers.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention, and, referring tothe same, Figure I is a plan view of a portion of the beam and embracesthe bulb-glass, bulb-frame,and other parts comprising the invention.Fig. II is a view similar to Fig. I with the dials removed and thegear-casing shown in section. Fig. III is a sectional View taken on lineIII III, Fig. I. Fig. IV is an enlarged diametrical section through thebulb dial-plate. Fig. Vis a diametrical section, enlarged, taken throughthe bulb-frame. Fig. VI is an enlarged diametrical section through thebulb frame sleeve. Fig. VII is a plan view of the level complete. Fig.VIII is a transverse section on lineVIII VIII, Fig. II. Fig. IX is an'enlarged detail view in section on line IX IX, Fig. I. y y

1 designates the beam, which may be of any preferred material.

2 is the bulb-frame, which is cylindrical in form and which is providedwith an annular' gear 3.

4 is a bulb-ring which is nested within the bulb-frame 2, its lower edgeresting upon a plate 5, which is supported by a iiange 6, directedinwardly from the lower portion of the bulb-frame 2.

The bulb-ring 4 carries a bulb-tube 7, which is'provided with a sight 8.One wall oi the bulb-tubev'7 lies along a line drawn through thediameter of the bulb-frame. The bulbtube 7 may be cemented in the ring,as shown, or fastened thereto in any other desired manner and isprotected by a glass plate 9, which rests upon the upper rim of thebulbring 4 and being held thereon by means of a ring 10, screws 11 beingprovided, which pass through the ring 10 and the glass 9 into thebulb-ring 4.

The bulb-ring 4 may be frictionally held adjustably within thebulb-frame by clamping-screws 12. An indicator 13, having elongatedslots 14, may be attached to the bulb-ring by screws 15, which passthrough the elongated slots. By loosening the screws 15 the indicator 13may be adjusted in case the level gets out of true.

14 is a thimble in the beam l, and the hubframe is revolubly mountedwithin the thimble 14, the annular gear 3 resting upon the upper rim ofthe thimble 14.

15 is a ring provided with a downwardlydirected flange 16, which issecured to the up-v per face of the beam, and the flange 16 rests uponthe upper face of the annular gear 3.

17 is a pinion which meshes with the annular gear 3 and which may berevolved by means of a thumb-nut 18.

The bulb-ring may be revolved easily, as there is a minimum of frictionbetween the annular gear and the thin edges of the thimlble 14 andliange 16.

The upper face of the ring 15 is suitably graduated.

It is obvious that if the indicator 1,3'is positioned as shown in Fig. Ithat the line of the bulb-tube will be perpendicular to the edge of thebeam, and when the bulb-tube is thus positioned the level is adapted tobe used in obtaininga plumb.

By positioning the pointer ninety-live degrees from the position shownin the drawings the level may be used for horizontal work. The pointermay be moved to any position on the ring and clamped when it is desiredto set the instrument for definite slopes or inclinations.

2O is a shaft mounted in plates 2l and Q2 and carries gears 23 and 24C.

25 is an intermediate gear on a pivot 25, which is supported by abracket 26, depending from the plate 21 and which meshes with gears Q3and 3.

27 is a shaft mounted in bearings in plates 2l and 22, which carries agear 28, the latter meshing with the gear 24.

The shaft Q7 extends up through the plate 2l and through the center ot'a fractional dial 29, which is screwed to the upper face of the beam.rlhe shaft 27 on its upper end carries a hand 30, which may beadjustably secured to a shaft 27 by a nut 31.

The gearing intermediate of the annular gear and the gear Z8 is soproportioned that when the indicator 13 is moved over a divisioncorresponding to one inch to the foot that the hand 30 will make acomplete revolution over the dial 32.

33 is a clamping-screw which takes against the bulb-ring 4 and holds thesame inv-position after it has been set as desired.

What I claim is- A beam, a thirnble therein, a bulb-frame having anannular gear, the gear resting on i the upper edge of the thimble., abulb-ring nested within the bulb-frame, a bulb-tube in the bulb-ring, atransparent cover or plate over the bulb-frame, a ring over the edge ofthe plate, a dial having a downturned iiange resting on the upper edgeof the annular gear, a fractional dial, gearing connecting theiractional dial with the annular gear, a hand for the fractional dialand an indicator for the first-named dial, the gearing beingproportioned to give a complete revolution of the hand over thefractional dial for a movement of the bulb-frame which brings theindicator on the bulb-frame over the space between two adjoininggraduations on the first dial.

State ot' Washington, this 13th day of August, 1903.

Signed at Seattle, in the county of King and I

